Managing Director
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) and BISC Foundation
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) has an immediate full-time opening for the position of Managing Director in its Washington, DC office. The Managing Director is a new position responsible for the overall day-to-day management of BISC and the BISC Foundation.
The Managing Director will build and manage the systems to help make us a high-performing team, serve as a close partner to our Executive Director and act as chief problem solver, and in general zealously advance the health and effectiveness of our organization.
Managing Director Overview:
The Managing Director will work closely with and report to the Executive Director. The MD is a senior organizational thought leader and active participant in making strategic decisions affecting both BISC and the BISC Foundation.
The role will evolve over time, but at a minimum the MD provides leadership to and oversees the Program and Communications, Organizational Planning, Development, and Finance and Operations teams.
Internally, the MD works closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors of both organizations, Board committees and the senior staff to set short term and long term organizational goals and policies.
Externally, the MD also works closely with BISC and BISC Foundation partners, stakeholders, both nationally and in the states to further the organization's mission and work.
This is an ideal position for someone who has a proven track record in helping manage and grow non-profit organizations and loves getting things done. The candidate may come from either a program, development, or operations background and must have proven financial management skills. This person must have exceptional project management and people skills with a team and partner focused orientation.
The candidate must be a very strong critical thinker and problem solver, with excellent judgment and a strong ability to communicate in writing and in person. People may not describe you as wacky, rebellious, or artistic, but they do describe you as linear, quick, and sharp. The candidate is fast-paced and detail-oriented, bringing a passion for making things work well and an ability to handle a large volume of work impeccably.
An exemplar of our culture, since you will be at the hub of what we do. People will take their cues about who we are and how we operate from you. You will blend high standards and rigor with a calm, egoless approach, a love of pleasing internal and external constituents, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a cutting edge sense of humor.
Managing Director Responsibilities:
Program and Communications
· Oversee, manage and provide leadership and strategic guidance to the senior program and communications team so that they can:
o Set goals and strategy for all programmatic work including but not limited to BISC's year-round research program and team of research consultants, the strategy for the long-term use of proactive ballot measures, defensive technical assistance for our state and national stakeholders, and ongoing ballot measure reform efforts in the states;
o Build relationships and partnerships with key allies in the field and ensure priorities are being set and delivered upon with said allies;
o Implement BISC's goal of maintaining a comprehensive electronic catalogue of polling, campaign planning and debrief documents, and other learning tools for our stakeholders;
o Create and implement a thoughtful political, programmatic and communications strategy for both BISC and the BISC Foundation internally and externally with partners and stakeholders
Organizational Planning and Development
· Act as "Chief Problem Solver" to handle ad hoc issues that arise, and develop and implement smart solutions;
· Help to build a transparent culture of excellence and collaboration, including creating learning opportunities for all staff and timely, regular internal communications;
· Serves as lead strategist on organizational and staff development in collaboration with the ED;
· In partnership with the ED, works to identify long-term goals of BISC and the BISC Foundation with an eye towards continued strategic progressive policy success;
· Implement systems that facilitate timely decision making and define what issues the ED must address;
· Act in a decision-making capacity in close collaboration with the ED on all operational matters and with collaboration of appropriate senior management team members in the absence of the ED;
· Work jointly with the ED and Director of Operations on staff recruitment and management decisions for all key positions;
· Facilitate the development, maintenance and monitoring of organizational plans including coordination of an integrated, cross department-planning process;
· Keep up to date on issues affecting the progressive non-profit sector and develops strategies to address these issues;
· Actively seek out opportunities for strategic partnerships.
Development
· The MD will provide strategic guidance to the Directors of Operations and Development – on the implementation of a comprehensive plan for developing individual, organizational and institutional philanthropic support.
· Responsible for supporting the ED and Development Team in development, specifically through strategic and operational planning guidance and by ensuring that required infrastructure and support services are in place.
Finance and Operations
· The MD will be responsible for the development of a financial management strategy that contributes to organizational goals;
· The MD will provide strategic guidance and feedbak to the Director of Operations and Finance who manages the annual financial planning and budgeting process;
· In conjunction with the Director of Operations and Finance, effectively communicate and present critical financial matters at select board of directors and committee meetings;
· Liaise with the senior management team, board members and accounting team to develop short-, medium- and long-term financial plans and projections; and
· In conjunction with the Director of Operations, improve administrative and operational accounting services such as financial management, 401-k plan, grants payment processing, payroll, accounts payable/receivable, and purchasing.
Managing Director Qualifications
BISC is seeking an individual with an entrepreneurial and collaborative management style with a passion for making BISC and the BISC Foundation a great place to work and a major change agent in the progressive movement:
· 10 years of senior-level experience the non-profit sector with demonstrated success in a development, operations, and/or program function;
· An inclusive management style, which respects the capabilities, experience, and professionalism of staff while providing them with clear direction;
· Experience leading, managing and participating in diverse teams;
· Ability to influence and engage a wide range of partners (board members, funders, contractors, stakeholders, etc.) and build long-term and strategic relationships;
· Ability to work both independently without close oversight, and to work as a team leader who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization;
· Able to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines;
· A team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical organizational initiatives;
· Able to think creatively and strategically to successfully mediate and negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally;
· Strong project management skills;
· Solid understanding of all aspects of fiscal management and information technology;
· Must be familiar with non-profit financial processes and with general compliance functions (finance/tax, political, operational); and
· Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills.
Compensation: Salary negotiable based on background and experience. Benefits include health, dental, vision and 401(k).
Full-time Regular Position, Overtime Exempt
To apply: Submit cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples and at least three references to Jobs@ballot.org with subject line: Managing Director by Friday, January 16, 2015
About BISC
Ballot-measure campaigns affect everything progressives fight for. But for the past forty years, the Right has dominated the ballot-measure process, harming our communities and forcing us to fight costly and diversionary defensive campaigns.
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC, a 501(c)(4) organization) is changing this dynamic. BISC strengthens democracy by building a national progressive strategy for ballot measures.
We recognize that ballot measures are a permanent part of the political process, and that strategic, well-crafted measures can be powerful tools for progressive change – to advance good policies, turn out key voters, frame the issues in elections and build our movement's infrastructure in states.
As the only national progressive organization focused exclusively on ballot measures, BISC is ideally positioned to act as a neutral and trusted third party, providing expert guidance, facilitating collaboration and promoting strategic investment, for the benefit of the entire progressive movement.
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at BISC, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at BISC and the BISC Foundation, where employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.